1
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Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
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2
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But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife: and let every woman have her own husband.
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3
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Let the husband render the debt to his wife: and the wife also in like manner to the husband.
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4
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The wife hath not power of her own body: but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body: but the wife.
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5
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Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer: and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.
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6
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But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.
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7
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For I would that all men were even as myself. But every one hath his proper gift from God: one after this manner, and another after that.
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8
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But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.
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9
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But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.
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10
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But to them that are married, not I, but the Lord, commandeth that the wife depart not from her husband.
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11
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And if she depart, that she remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.
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12
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For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not and she consent to dwell with him: let him not put her away.
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13
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And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not and he consent to dwell with her: let her not put away her husband.
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14
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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife: and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband. Otherwise your children should be unclean: but now they are holy.
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15
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But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace.
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16
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For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
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17
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But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one: so let him walk. And so in all churches I teach.
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18
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Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
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19
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Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.
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20
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Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.
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21
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Wast thou called, being a bondman? Care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
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22
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For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.
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23
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You are bought with a price: be not made the bondslaves of men.
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24
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Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
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25
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Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.
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26
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I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity: that it is good for a man so to be.
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27
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Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.
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28
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But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.
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29
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This therefore I say, brethren: The time is short. It remaineth, that they also who have wives be as if they had none:
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30
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And they that weep, as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not: and they that buy as if they possessed not:
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31
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And they that use this world, as if they used it not. For the fashion of this world passeth away.
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32
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But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord: how he may please God.
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33
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But he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the world: how he may please his wife. And he is divided.
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34
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And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world: how she may please her husband.
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35
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And this I speak for your profit, not to cast a snare upon you, but for that which is decent and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.
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36
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But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will. He sinneth not if she marry.
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37
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For he that hath determined, being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will: and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.
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38
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Therefore both he that giveth his virgin in marriage doth well: and he that giveth her not doth better.
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39
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A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband die, she is at liberty. Let her marry to whom she will: only in the Lord.
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40
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But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel. And I think that I also have the spirit of God.
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